Bears sabotage Sydney Airport Jets
winning run

The Sydney Airport Jets four-game winning streak was brought undone by North Sydney in the VB Premier League match played at North Sydney Oval on Saturday. The Bears led 26-8 at half-time, and contained Newtown's second half resurgence to run out winners by 28-18.

There was an eerie symmetry to this result, with Norths having sprung an upset win over the Jets by exactly the same score at the same ground and at the same time of the season last year. Norths thoroughly deserved this win, as they out-enthused and outsmarted Newtown.

The Bears targeted the Jets' defensive weaknesses with great effect, particularly midway through the first half, and ran the Jets? big men around with a wide passing game. Newtown registered a less than fifty per cent sets completion rate in the second half, but still fought hard to retrieve the match.

Craig Field and Ben Cook were Newtown's best backs, with Cook's first try clearly inspired by Billy Slater's thrilling kick and chase effort at Suncorp Stadium the previous Wednesday. Troy Barnes and Billy Najjarin were Newtown's best forwards, with front-rower James Stosic showing some of his better form in the second half.

The Sydney Airport Jets travel south this coming Saturday (June 26th) when they take on the Canberra Raiders in the VB Premier League at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan at 3.00pm. Newtown meets up with the Sydney Bulls in the Jim Beam Cup competition at Potts Park, Bankstown on Saturday at 2.00pm.

In Group 11 action on the weekend, Newtown's central-western affiliate club Parkes was desperately unlucky to lose to the competition leaders Dubbo CYMS by 32-31 at Pioneer Oval, Parkes on Sunday.